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• The reclaimed areas on the Lone Pine Gulch Portal Site exhibit an impressive amount and diversity of vegetative cover, especially considering the drought conditions present on the site throughout the summer of 2002. Vegetative cover estimates were determined by Chuck Florian of Greystone Environmental Consultants, Inc. Table 2 presents the estimated total cover and cover per vegetative species within the vicinity of each soil-pit location. The total estimated cover in the vicinity of soil-pit TS-1 is 26 percent, but the surveyor noted that 22 percent is a more accurate estimate of total vegetative cover for the entire topsoil storage azea. Total vegetative cover for the entire reclaimed portal area is estimated to be 19 percent. Table 2 Estimated Total Vegetative Cover Lone Pine Gulch Portal Site Sam le Number TS-1 12EC-1 REC-2 13EC-3 A o ron s 16% 18°/a 10% 5% Bromus mar inatus 3% 6% 7% 3% Achnatherum menoides 2% 3% <I% 2% Festuca arizonica 3% 1% 3% <1% Poa ratensis <1% 1% <I% <I% S haeralcea ossu[arii olio <1% <1% <1% <1% Total Estimated Cover 26% 29% 22% 12% • A species list of vegetation observed on the reclaimed azea was compiled and is included in Table 3. Table 3 Vegetation Species List Lone Pine Gulch Portal Site Scientific Name Common Name A o ron s * wheat s Bromus mar inatus Mountain brome ss Achnatherum h menoides Indian rice ass Festuca arizonica Arizona fescue Poa ratensis Kentuc blue ss S haeralcea ossularii olio Goosebe leaf obemallow *Multiple species' of whea[grass were applied to the reclaimed areas during seeding. Cover estimates for Agropyron spp. include: [hickspike whea[grass (Agrop}ron dasysmchyum), bluebunch whea[grass (Agropyran spicamm), wes[em wheatgrass (Agropyron smiihii), streambank wheatgrass (Agropyron riparium), slender whea[gmss (Agropyron trachycaulum), pubescent whea[gass (Agropyron trichophorum), and beardless wheatgrass (Agropyron inerme). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The first year of reclamation on the Lone Pine Gulch Portal Site is highly successful. Topsoil replacement depths are more than adequate across the reclaimed area extent. Placement of erosion control blankets on the steepest portions of the portal site have controlled potential erosion problems. Although abelow-average concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus was detected in • the topsoil, another application of (30-15-5 NPK) fertilizer in the spring of 2003 should resolve the problem.